The primary focus of Democracy in America was to provide an analysis of representative democracy in the United States. Alexis de Tocqueville examined America with a particular focus upon the strengths and weaknesses of our system based on what he viewed through his travels.
A few interesting observations that he made:
• He stated that Americans largely respect the laws because they are essentially derived from citizens.
• He stated that the major strength of our law system is the ability that the judicial system has to correct itself.
• He stated that many Americans share the common value that hard work will bring success and greater wealth.
• He stated that the separation of the church and the state (and societal acceptance of it) was also a strength of the American system.
• He did not believe that blacks and Indians would ever be viewed on equal terms as whites, and he correctly predicted that the slavery conflict would later become a significant problem for the United States
• As a criticism, he stated that while democracy is powerful because it involves the active participation of the people, some citizens are not informed enough to make the best decisions about electing proper leadership.
• Also as a criticism, he stated that because the majority always win in a democratic system, individuals among the minority have to suffer the rule of the majority, even though they do not agree. o He called this the “tyranny of the majority”
o He stated this could also lead to mass conformity to the majority opinion not out of agreement, but for personal security
A few interesting observations that he made:
• He stated that Americans largely respect the laws because they are essentially derived from citizens.
• He stated that the major strength of our law system is the ability that the judicial system has to correct itself.
• He stated that many Americans share the common value that hard work will bring success and greater wealth.
• He stated that the separation of the church and the state (and societal acceptance of it) was also a strength of the American system.
• He did not believe that blacks and Indians would ever be viewed on equal terms as whites, and he correctly predicted that the slavery conflict would later become a significant problem for the United States
• As a criticism, he stated that while democracy is powerful because it involves the active participation of the people, some citizens are not informed enough to make the best decisions about electing proper leadership.
• Also as a criticism, he stated that because the majority always win in a democratic system, individuals among the minority have to suffer the rule of the majority, even though they do not agree.
o He called this the “tyranny of the majority”
o He stated this could also lead to mass conformity to the majority opinion not out of agreement, but for personal security
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